Voting-machine.



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PATENTBD PR, ff

APPLICATION FILED APE,20,1905.

AM Mme @E No. 884,0s9f

' PATBNTBD APR. '7, 1908. F. A. PETERSON. voTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APILZO, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 'PATBNTED APR. 7, 1908.

v1:". A. PETERSN.

VOTING MAGHNB. APPLIGATION HLED APR.20,190'5.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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` witnesses No. 884,039. v PATENTED APR, '7, 1908. F. A. PETBRSN. VOTNG MAHNE APPL'EGATION FILED AFF.. 20, 1965.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED APR. 7, 1908.

P. A. PETERSON. VTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.20, 1905.

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lllllllllllllNlIQIIWIIIll 4 N. 884,039. vPATBN'IED APR. '7, 1908. FJA., PETERSN. VOTING MACHINE.- APPLICATION FILED APR.20.1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6,

Zu/ff Gteau/mja FRANS A. PETERSON, OF SYRAOUSE. NEW YORK.

VOTINGwMACHINE.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1905.

Patented ,apra '2, 190s.

Serial No. 256,67.

To all whom tf/muy concern:

Be it known that I, FRANS A. PETERSON, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Syr acuse, Onondaga coun ty, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Imrovcments in 'lvleting-Machinesfof which the )Following is a speeifieation.

The present invention relates t0 an im.- provement in voting machines particularly adapted for use in clubs, societies, and similar organizations, and has for its object to provide a compact `and simple mechanism, by which the total number of votes 'for and against a j iartieular candidate, or regarding a particular subject can be readily and accurately accumulated.

A further object of the invention is to prol vide suoli a machine with means whereby only the voter, or partyoperating the machine, is advised of the nature ol' the vote recorded by his actuation of the machine, means being provided, however, for preventing any person l'roin seeretly actuating the machine except in accordance with the rules provided for the use thereof. l

The invention may be embodied m machines elt various forms, but in the aerompanying '.lrawings there is shown an embodinient oi' the invention. adapted lor voting I allirmatively and negatively on a plurality oll subjects.

In the neeompanying drawingsfwlfigure l is a iront elevation of a machine eonstrueted in eleordanee with the present invention;

' Fig. L is aseetional vView, substantially on the vline 2*2 oit Fig. L; Fig. il is a horizontal see "tional View suhstantiallv on the linell il ol' Fig. il; l `ig 4 is a transverse verlieal see `tional view through the nnu'hine; Fig. 5 is a sectional View, on an enlarged seule, ofthe holder for the index wird; Figs. (l and 7 are vrespectively a side elevation and iront View of the inclosing Aase within which the inaehine is arranged; Fig. s illustrates a slight modification.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the apparatusineludes a suitable l'ramework 1,'the baseol' which muy be provided with' elastic cushionsY or l'eet 2 and in the front wall of which is l'ornied an opening adapted to be elosed by a swinging lid or door 3. Mounted upon 'shafts 4, supported in suitable-frames 5 within the housing l, are

ya series el counting mechanisms, of which any desirednumber may be provlded.

I Such mechanisms are 'arranged inpairs, there being a pair for every question or candidate to he voted on or lor, the members efeael'i pair being respectively employed .to reeord the number ol votes for and against the question The tte-- eumulating parts oi" such counting mechanisms may be ol' any desired construction and various l'orms of devi `-es adapted for such purpose are well known and de not forni any art of the )resent invention the i are onlyV eonventionallyv illustrated. rPhe only essenr tial feature of this part of the apparatus is that eaeh (counting or accumulating meehanism shall inelude a plurality oi"v numbered wheels or disks (5; and with eaeh of suoli eounting mechanisms is associated a see-tor 7 bearing on its periphery words indicative of the charm-.ter ol the vote which is to be recorded by the associated counting mechanism. As shown the sector 7 adjacent the le'lt hand member ol' each pair ol eounting nwehanisms has the words ls/rote, yes arranged on the lowerhall' ol` its periphery and 'the eorrespomling sector el. the right hand member ol` each pair oi' counting mechanisms has the words Vote, no" similarly arranged. Normally the sectors 7 oli the adding orlzounting mechanisms whieh are seeured to the shafts 4 are held in suoli v)osition that the upper blank )oi-tion on eut-li is displayed through suitable slots or apertures 25, H, l'ormed in the front wall ol' the housing l and in a swingingeover or lid whieh is adapted lo close a portion ol' euch slot h in said housing. Al enel) actuation oll either eounter, by means lnneiinil'ler desrribed, the seelor 7 assoeialed with such rounler will be turned a distunee sullieienl to bring the inseription lhiureon into alinemenl with the apertures H, tl, and, alter the vole has been reeorded, said sertor 7 will, as the shalt l und operating means return lo normal positions, be restored lo ilsoriginnl position in whhh the blank portion thereol' will be exposed through the openings Si'. That is, at each voting operation the voler is enabled to see whieh ol' the counting nieelnxnisms he has actuated but such indii'ation elm-'ery vote is withdrawn or oneealed' before' a subsequent operation ol the nmehine.

'lhe counting mer'lnmisms are actuated as sppnding key lever 11 is de ressed and as a ove described when either s aft 4 is rocked the sector 7 thereon is moved to indicate that .the associated counting mechanism has been actuated. The levers 11 are fulcrumed on a rod. 12 sup orted in suitable brackets 13 attached to t e `base of the mainframe 1 and at their forward ends each of said levers is provided with a key 14 on the upper surface of which ma be displayed information indicating the c iaracter of the vote, which will be recorded by the actuation of the particular key. The keys may, as shown, be numbered from left to right and alternately bear the words Yes and No the key marked l l 1, mem er of the counting devices which is ada ted to record the several votes in favor of t e proposition or candidate to which the first pair ot counting devices relates. The key marked 2, no is adapted to actuate the other member of said pair of counting devices Whichis to record the votes in op )osition to.the question or candidate to w rich the first airof counting mechanisms relates.

Each key lever 11 is connected with one end of a tension spring 15 coiled about the rod 12 and having its other end connected to a collar 16. Said collar is secured in any desired position on the rod by a suitable pin eX- tending through passages 17 formed .in the collar and an alined passage in the rod. The

pin mayl be readily withdrawn to permit ofv rotation of the collar 16 to vary the tension of the spring 15 as desired. yYear their forward ends the levers 11 are guided by a comb 18 fastened to a cross bar 19 sup orted by standards arranged at opposite si es of the machine. To. the lower face of said cross bar is secured a cushion 20 against which the u per edges of the key levers are normally held y the tension springs 15. Each key lever is rovided, in advance of the comb 18, with a aterally projecting pin or stud 21 which, as the key lever is depressed, by pressure on the key 14, passes beneath and is engaged by a latch 22 pivotally mounted in a suitable suport on the base of the machine. Each atch 22 is adapted to rock about its pivot for a limited distance determined by a pin 22a hereon extending -into a slot in the bearing for the latch; and a spring 23 arranged between the base of the machine and an arm 23a on thelatch, normally holds the latter in position to engage the stud 21. Each key lever is also provided 'with a pivotally mounted trip 24 adapted, as the lever is depressed, to engage a cross bar 25 mounted at its ends upon suitable pivots 26 and having a bell hammer 27aL connected therewith. As either key is depressed the trip 24 connected therewith will rock the cross bar 25 and elevate the bell hammer and as the lever 11 reaches its lowest position, where it is en- 65 gaged by the latch 22, the trip 24 passes from es, being adapted to actuate that:

engagement with the cross bar 25 and said bell hammer will fall and strikea bell 27 suitahlymounted Within the frame 1. In its downward movement the cross `bar 25 strikes a stud 26 which checks its movement and acts to raise the hammer from contact with the bell after each operation.

To release the latch 22 a release key 28 is provided. This key is carried .at the forward ends of levers 30 which levers are also connected by a cross rod 31, the ends of which project beyond the said levers, said rod being adapted to engage an arm 23 of each latch 22 as the release key 28 is depressed. Whenever, therefore, the release key 28 is depressed the previously operative latch 22 will be rocked into inoperative position and the depressed key lever 11 will be free to rise under the action of its spring 15.

It will be understood that as the key 14 is depressed the signal sector 7 of the associated counting device will be actuated to bring inscription Vote yes, or Vote no, thereon into position opposite the openings S, 8, and as the key lever rises said sector will be restored to its normal position with the blank ortion thereof opposite the openings 8, 8*, he counting devices areso arranged that the wheels thereof will not be actuated until the full downward motion of the key lever is completed; and at the completion of such downward movement of either key lever the audible signal device 27 will be actuated, indicating that a vote has been recorded; but, as aforesaid, no indication of the nature of such vote is given to any person except the one actuating the machine and the signal sector-7 giving information as to the character of the vote is. returned to its normal position upon the upward movement of the key lever. The downward movement of the key lever is checked by a stop bar 31a.

To one of the levers 30 connected with the release key is attached a trip 32 adapted to engage, as said release key is depressed. an

Aarm on a rock shaft 34. This shaft 34 is mounted in bearings in suitable uprights 35 and to it is connected the hammer .36 of a bell 37. The hell 37 will therefore be struck at the completion Aof the downwardmovement of the release key 28, which, :1s aforesaid, releases the previously engaged latch 22 and allows the depressed key lever to rise to its normal position. T he release key is normally held in its elevated position by tension springs 38 similar to the springs 15 by which the key levers 11 are elevated.

The bells 27, 37, are of different tones soY that two readily distinguishable audible signals are given at every actuation of the machine, the first when the downward movement of a key lever 11 is completed and a vote has been recorded, and the second when the depressed key lever has been released and the parts of the machine thereby restored to norsowas mal position. As the signals are automatic ally sounded it is impossible for a voter to actuate the machine improperly without being detected.

To the `top of the housing l is secured an indicator` consisting of asuitable frame ai lapt ed to receive cards bearing inscriptions denoting the subject to which the several keys of the machine are assigned. As shown this indicator comprises a metal frame, the fron-t of which is hinged at 39 and provided with a series of glass panels. A card bearing suitable information may be inserted within each section of such frame and be readily discernible through the glass panel thereof. Springs l() act to hold the hinged front in closed position and a knob or hand piece 4] is provided by means of which it may be swung downwardly to permit the cards being changed as desired. Above cach of said main parts of the .indicator is a supplen'icntal indicator bearin inscriptions corres ondinLr to those v i Y l rs upon the keys la. it will bc understood that the information given by the main indicator will be duplicated in the sections thereof lpair of corresponding to members of each l readcounting devices so that the voter wi ily understand which key of each pair is to be actuated for recording votes infavor of. the candidate or roposition to which the particular pair of) counting devices relate, and which key s to be actuated to record votes in o position to saidquestion or candidate.

T ie a ertures or slots S in the housing l are of such ength as to enable the signal sector 7 vas welles each of the number disks 6 of the adjacent counting device to be viewed theresealed by the cover 3.

through, but normally all of such slots or apertures except. the portion thereof through which the signal sector 7 is visible is con- That is, the apertures '8? in the swinging cover 3 are of such dimeni -the sions as to permit a view of the sectors 7, while concealing the numbered disks of the counting devices. The said swinging cover is secured in its closed position by a suitable lock 42, the key to Which will be retained by sition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 only when it is desired to ascertain the number of votes that have 4been recorded by the machine. i

As hereinbefore' described, any desired number of counting mechanisms may be emplo 'ed vIn Figs. l to 4 is illustrated an em odiment of the invention containing hut four of such counting mechanisms. he number of suchmechanisms may be rt u v duplicated, however, as shownY in Fig. t3, without nuitcrially increasing the size of the machine by arranging one series of counting devices 5U above and in rear of the other series 5l, cach beingr connected by. a link 512 arty charged with the custody of the` vtiallv the same forni as the machine, but the side walls 43 thereof are of greater height than the machine and each of such sides is irovidcd with a sliding section 44 which may )e drawn forward as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, being secured in its forward osition by any suit-ablel fastening means. T e cover or top of the casing is made in two sections, the main section 45 being hinged to the side pieces 43, as at 46, and connected to slotted links #L7 which are adapted to be lockedto the said sides 43, atany desired elevation. At the forward end of the main section 45 of said cover or top is hinged a supplemental section or front piece 48 which, when the machine is to be used, is turned or swung backward and over on the main section 45 as shown in Fig. 6. Said front or su plemental section is provided with a suitab e knob or f .side walls of the inclosing case are extended and the top adjusted into the position shown in Fig. 6, it is impossible for any but the person operating the machine to see any of the operative parts of the machine or obtain any information regarding the nature of the vote recorded, although the audible signal devices before described are actuated at. each operation of the machine.

The operation ofthe machine which has been set forth in the above description may be briefly summarized as follows: Prior to using the 'machine, suitable cards will be placed within the indicator, and the person or persons having charge ofthemachine will unlock the swinging cover 3 and make a suit able memorandum of the numbers displayed through the several slots 8 in the front of the housing 1. Said cover 3 will then be closed and locked and thereafter at each operation isms Will be actuated, the sector 7 associated with the operated key being turned vto advise the voter of the nature of the vote Which has been recorded by him and the bell 27 struck ros of the voting, the total number ofivotes recorded by each of the keys can be readily ascertained.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a much more satisfactory means for voting in societies and assemblies than that which is commonly in' use involving the em loyment of balls or other bodies of di erent colors. The present machine not only serves all the urposes of such common method of voting, ut in addition furnishes a record of the number of votes, both affirmative and negative which are registered.

V.What Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a voting machine, the combination of an accumulating device, a vibrating visual signal mounted coaxially'with and entirely at one side of the number wheels of said device, a key lever, and means connected with the key lever for operating said signal and accumulating device. v

2. In a voting machine, the combination of an accumulating device, a vibrating visual signal mounted coaxially with and entirely at one side of the number wheels of said device, a key lever, and means for actuating the accumulating device and said signal at every operation ofthe key lever.

3. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality of countingr mechanisms, a series of voting keys each connected with a lever adapted to actuate one of the counting mechanisms,a housing inclosing said counting mechanisms, and having therein apertures o posite thc counting mechanisms, a signal d)evice arranged adjacent each of the counting mechanisms and movable across the said aperture in the housing, said signal devices being each connected with one of the voting key levers, whereby as the lever is operated to actuate the countingmechanism, said signal will be moved opposite said aperture in the housing to indicate the nature of the vote recorded, an audible signal device adapted to be operated by either of the voting key levers and means for moving the first said signal device to inoperative position as the voting key lever returns to nornal position.

4. In a voting machine, the combination of a counting mechanism, a voting key connectcdrwith a lever adapted to operate Said counting mechanism, a housing inclosing said counting mechanism and having therein a slot through which the counting mechanism is visible, a signal device arranged at. one side witha lever adapted to operate one of said counting mechanisms, an audible signal device, a trip mounted on each voting key lever and adapted to actuate said audible signal as the lever is depressed, latches each adapted to automatically lock one of the voting key levers;J in depressed position, a release key movable by the voter adapted to release and move said latches to inoperative position,

and a second audible signal device adapted to be'aetuated by said release key.

6. In a voting machine the combinationI of a counting mechanism, a voting key adapted to operate the counting mechanism, a housing inclosing the counting mechanism and having -an aperture formed therein through which said mechanism is visible, a signal device adapted to be moved by operation of the voting key into position to be visible through said aperture in the housing,

and a removable cover adapted to close that portion of the aperture in the housing through which the counting mechanism is' visible.

7. In a voting machine, the combination with a lurality of counting mechanisms and a plura 'ty of voting ke levers mounted on a common axis and eac adapted to operate one of the counting mechanisms, of means for locking' either key lever in its depressed position', means for producingv an audible signal when either voting key lever is actuated, and a release key mounted on the same axis as the voting key lever and ada ted to be operated by the voter to release t e lock of the previously depressed voting key lever.

-In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANS A. PETERSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES D. STEvENsON, JNO. E. HUNT. 

